Neighbor issues

[Jotulf3cb]

My neighbor seems to be starting up again about supposed "smoke" that he smells in his house from my chimney and the dangers associated with wood smoke. I know what you guys are going to say but seriously ..... Is there a site or some articles that you can point me to online where they discuss true hard facts about burning with an EPA approved wood stove and dispel many of the myths and nonsense circulating around??
Thanks!

 

[elmoleaf]

Are there other woodburners in the neighborhood? Maybe it's someone else and not you.
If he's smelling smoke inside his house in winter, he's got a very drafty house.

You might find something useful on the EPA Burnwise website: http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/

 

[pixelmountain]

You might be able to use something from these links:

(broken link removed to http://www.woodheat.org/why/whywood.htm)

 

[Mrs. Krabappel]

Nice kingbird pixelmountain.

To the OP
He sounds like someone who just wants to complain and control what is not his to control. I would not even enter a dialogue with him about this.

 

[BrotherBart]

Unfortunately, no. Like a lot of things advocates against spend a lot more time digging up "fact" than advocates for. If they live close, and have a leaky house, they probably do smell some smoke.

Just like in the summer I smell those damned clothes drier fabric softener sheets everybody but us uses.

Too bad you don't have my dork neighbor that said "Oh, you burn wood?". After being over there through over a hundred cords going through my stoves.

 

[pixelmountain]

Nice kingbird pixelmountain.

Thanks. He's an Eastern Kingbird, which I'm guessing you knew. We have lots of Western Kingbirds and fewer of these guys, so he was especially nice to see.

I would not even enter a dialogue with him about this.

Sensible advice.

 

[RonB]

To the OP
He sounds like someone who just wants to complain and control what is not his to control. I would not even enter a dialogue with him about this.[/quote]

I think Kathleen nailed it. He can't be much of a "good" neighbor if he is whining about what should be an insignificant amount of occasional smoke. Cool off your relationship with him and/or ignore him. Like I said, he doesn't sound like a good neighbor. The fact that this is getting to you shows me you are conscientious and therefore must be burning correctly.

 

[Mad Tom]

Get an outdoor wood furnace and feed 4 foot rounds of crappy wet wood into it and do him in.

 

[Monkey Wrench]

Get an outdoor wood furnace and feed 4 foot rounds of crappy wet wood into it and do him in.

Yeah, And don't forget to throw a tire or two in it also!


Sorry to hear you have a crappy neighbor.

 

[rdust]

How close are the houses? If they're close and the smoke is blowing his way I'm sure he can smell it. The stoves burn clean but you can't avoid the smoke on start up and reloads. Ignore him and hope he goes away. :lol:

My garage is on the west side of the house and my chimney is on the east side, some days when I open the garage and the wind/air pressure is right it seems like the garage just sucks the smell in.

I'm fortunate enough to have a neighbor on the east side who used to burn a neighbor on the west side who burns occasionally and my neighbor north east burns 24/7 like us. Only neighbor that's mentioned it was the neighbor lady on the east side commenting how she loved the smell of a wood burning stove.

 

[ribs1]

Get an outdoor wood furnace and feed 4 foot rounds of crappy wet wood into it and do him in.

Yeah, And don't forget to throw a tire or two in it also!


Sorry to hear you have a crappy neighbor.

LOL,
Not really funny though. I have a buddy who lives about a mile away. He is an eccentric and very rich guy. He heats his 8000 sq foot house with a giant outdoor boiler. He also has a ton of vehicles which generate old tires. He probably has at least 12-15 cars, 4-5 tractors, 10-15 go garts for his kids, 8-10 atv's, 3 little diahatsu trucks, motorcycles etc.
I jokingly suggested he start burning tires in there. Really bad idea because that's exactly what he does now. He's probably burned 15-20 tires in the last month.

 

[RNLA]

As the others have said, do not enter discussion with him. I had an ugly nextdoor person, I actually feel sorry for the guy, he was actually mentaly ill. We did not see eye to eye. We talked with the police and they said they could not stop him from threatening us with bodily harm or violence. We sold the home ten days later.... The moral to my story? Do not ask for anyones blessing on your perfectly leagal action of heating your home!

 

[homebrewz]

hmm.. Rockland County. The 'burbs are a little tightly packed down there.

There must be something your neighbor does on a regular basis that is more harmful to him than smelling the smoke from your stove start-up. It would be ironic if he smoked cigarettes. I'd have to agree with the others that suggest its best not to get involved.

 

[Renovation]

Nice kingbird pixelmountain.

To the OP
He sounds like someone who just wants to complain and control what is not his to control. I would not even enter a dialogue with him about this.

+1,000,000

I have one in my Arizona HOA, and it is the classic petty tyrant syndrome. All efforts on my part to placate just enabled them and caused me more grief. Think of the Tarbaby parable--once you touch it you are stuck. As with any narcissist, a recommended technique is "fogging" (ironic, in this case). Be vague, pleasant, non-committal, and end the conversation ASAP. Make no commitments, give no information, give no "soundbites" to be used against you.

People like this feed on attention, and the less you give them the better. Just try to disappear off their radar.

HTH, empathy, and good luck.

 

[OhioBurner©]

As with any narcissist, a recommended technique is "fogging" (ironic, in this case). Be vague, pleasant, non-committal, and end the conversation ASAP. Make no commitments, give no information, give no "soundbites" to be used against you.

Agreed. Its like a hunter trying to convince a vegan that shooting a deer is ok, you'll never win that argument no matter what kinda of studies have been done.

Another quote sorta applies to this situation as well, "Don't argue with idiots. They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience".

 

[poltroon]

I would point out that it is an EPA approved stove and show/tell the emissions specs for it. I found this link that may help you compare your stove to other sources:

http://burningissues.org/car-www/medical_effects/comp-emmis-part-sources.htm

He may well smell wood smoke in his house and it may be bothering him. But, it's more likely to be someone else's who is not EPA compliant, or even someone doing an outdoor burn of some kind. I smell wood smoke from time to time knowing that none of the houses line of sight to me are currently burning any fires. It can drift quite a long way.

You could point out, nicely, perhaps in another context, that insulating his house might really lessen outside annoyances, like noise, smells (say the neighborhood skunk) not to mention drafts.

 

[Renovation]

I would point out that it is an EPA approved stove and show/tell the emissions specs for it. I found this link that may help you compare your stove to other sources:

http://burningissues.org/car-www/medical_effects/comp-emmis-part-sources.htm

To play devil's advocate, my neighbor would look at those figures and go. "Oh my gosh!! Your stove is 8,000 times as dirty as my gas furnace! It's worse than cigarettes, or a car! I think I'd better call my lawyer!"

I'm just saying. Your mileage may vary, and I hope it does.

One excellent phrase, if you feel cornered is "I'd rather not.". Repeat as needed.

 

[yooperdave]

i guess i have really great neighbors. we watch out for each other with offers of help and they have actually said that burning wood is a good smell. they are both retired and unable to burn or make wood. they stop by when i am giving it heck on the wood pile and the break i take from work to talk to them is always welcome. i think they both used to burn at earlier stages of their life

 

[partybob99]

I would point out that it is an EPA approved stove and show/tell the emissions specs for it. I found this link that may help you compare your stove to other sources:

http://burningissues.org/car-www/medical_effects/comp-emmis-part-sources.htm

He may well smell wood smoke in his house and it may be bothering him. But, it's more likely to be someone else's who is not EPA compliant, or even someone doing an outdoor burn of some kind. I smell wood smoke from time to time knowing that none of the houses line of sight to me are currently burning any fires. It can drift quite a long way.

You could point out, nicely, perhaps in another context, that insulating his house might really lessen outside annoyances, like noise, smells (say the neighborhood skunk) not to mention drafts.

I think this link is outdated. 8.2 grams per hour is way high for today's EPA stove. My Napoleon 1402 says 3.7g/hour on the brochure (i think) and I know the cat models are better.

 

[Stump_Branch]

live or let die, I'd let this one die. be polite as possible, as its your right, its also his to complain. But be a good neighbor and burn clean at least.

As a hunter, fisher, and yes trapper. I have engaged in countless discussions on my activities, no im not saying I'm right, but its not wrong either. I agree with above, you are not going to convince PETA hunting is OK.

Besides some people dont have to heat with wood, they blow enough hot air to heat their whole house. We should be so lucky....

 

[lefty1955]

WOW Are you sure I don't live on the other side of this guy? This sounds just like my neighbor he telling me that all his whole family's cloths smells like smoke he cant sleep at nite and his wife is sick all because of my wood burner. Checked all my specs and everything is within ordinance now I admit it took alittle while to get use to adjusting my stove but now everything in under controll and he is still complaining.

 

[Renovation]

WOW Are you sure I don't live on the other side of this guy? This sounds just like my neighbor he telling me that all his whole family's cloths smells like smoke he cant sleep at nite and his wife is sick all because of my wood burner. Checked all my specs and everything is within ordinance now I admit it took alittle while to get use to adjusting my stove but now everything in under controll and he is still complaining.

Hello Lefty, and welcome!

That's too bad. What stove are you burning? Are you burning smokeless now?

 

[ansehnlich1]

sorry, can't post what I'd tell the guy.

rest assured, if he's an idiot, it wouldn't be 'neighborly'

 

[pen]

sorry, can't post what I'd tell the guy.

rest assured, if he's an idiot, it wouldn't be 'neighborly'

and if I were your other neighbor, I'd be going over with you.

pen

 

[gandrimp]

I am in no way telling you to do this, but if you do you need to check with ALL your
neighbors. Some people are allergic to poison ivy smoke. Just sayin.